Video interviewing offers companies of all sizes various benefits, revolutionizing the traditional recruitment and hiring process. Here are 5 reasons why you should invest in video-chat software today.

Widen your net

Not every candidate applying for a role in your company will be local. The internet allows you to find the best person for the job, whether they live two blocks away or on the other side of the country.

If you find the perfect candidate is hundreds of miles away, you can’t expect them to spend money and time traveling to see you, especially during first-round interviews.

Video interviews make meeting applicants face-to-face possible, no matter where they’re based. You can get a feel for their attitude, their commitment, and their level of enthusiasm without the cost and inconvenience of meeting in the flesh.

Minimize wasted time

During the recruitment phase, anyone responsible for holding interviews with applicants has to meet numerous people. This can eat into a busy schedule and lead to wasted time – time that could be better-spent elsewhere. Understandably, you want to see as many strong candidates as possible, even though most will fall short of the mark.

Video interviews enable you to meet every worthwhile applicant in far less time. Without having to wait for visitors to travel and find your office, you can keep the interview process far shorter. Candidates need only their laptop and an internet connection, giving you both more freedom to negotiate appointment-times.

If possible, simply scheduling one call after the next allows you to keep meetings grouped together – you may even be able to screen multiple applicants within just an hour or two.

Demonstrate commitment to innovation and progress

Candidates, particularly millennials, want to work for companies with their finger on the pulse. If they receive an invitation to interview with a business which seems somewhat archaic and behind the times, they may well hold back and sell themselves short (even unconsciously) in the hopes of landing a role with a more desirable brand.

Needless to say, if you appear stuck in the past, you could be chasing the best, most forward-focused candidates away to competitors ahead of the curve.

Video interviews show that you’re working with the latest technology and current with today’s biggest trends. You’ll also demonstrate that you have a flexible, modern understanding of business-management, rather than clinging to a more drawn-out, inconvenient interview process.

Boost your candidate engagement

If your hiring process takes weeks, possibly even months, do you honestly think the best candidates will wait for you to make a decision? Chances are, they’ll be snapped-up by a competitor, and you’ll have missed out on a valuable asset.

Businesses traditionally send letters or emails to update applicants on their progress or failure. Letters can take days to arrive, of course, while emails may well go to junk folders or be missed altogether. With live streaming video technology, you have the freedom to connect with candidates instantly, keeping them firmly in the loop.

This also makes telling applicants they’ve failed to secure a role a little more personal and engaging, leaving them with a better image of your business. You also give them the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the interview process, making the call a learning experience for you both.

Record interviews to share with key decision-makers

Let’s say you hold a face-to-face interview with a candidate, and while they’re impressive, you’re left uncertain whether they will be the best fit. If you conducted the meeting alone, you’ll only have your own opinion to draw on. While you can invite others to sit in on the interview with you, key decision-makers may not be available as and when needed.

With live streaming video technology, you can record interviews for playback later on. Any senior members of the company, or department-heads, have the power to assess the applicant without their being present, listening to certain responses again and again.

Video interviews enable you to include multiple colleagues in the decision-making process, easing personal pressure to find the right applicant while making the hiring stage feel like a collaborative effort.

While off the shelf platforms like Skype, Hangouts, and GoToMeeting are popular, investing in cutting-edge streaming services like Agora.io gives a global reach with clear, reliable performance. No matter where your interviewee is based, whether in even the most remote areas or countries with weak internet infrastructures, the right live streaming video technology will make you feel like you’re in the same room, closing even the biggest geographical gaps.